From experiences of others who'd done the course before I was expecting an A3 softback sketchbook but the course should really be called Very Large Scale Sketchbook as we were given a Seawhite A2 wire-o hardback!

We were all seated around a big table ( with extra tables added to extend it when we opened our sketchbooks) which was a lovely way of starting. After introductions , a still life was set up in the centre of the table of some of the usual random selection of objects: bottles, tools, a teapot, a large metal 'P' (above); a creepy looking doll. Starting several pages into our sketchbooks we then drew with charcoal over a double page A1 spread ( bit tricky with the wire in the middle). Lots of rubbings out which gives a lot of lovely ghostly marks then measuring, trying to make it a more accurate drawing.

We then made up a very light ink wash and painted all the darkest areas with it, letting it dry during a teabreak while we filled in the admin forms.

On our return we turned our sketchbooks upside down so more aware of shapes rather than objects and started cutting into the pages with a Stanley knife

Initially the shapes cut out were glued to the page beneath so that superficially the upper page still looked the same but then we became braver and stuck pieces on different places/pages.

Every so often we walked round the table to see what other people were doing - considering it was the same materials and objects being drawn , the approaches used were very different and inspired by others we started cutting right through the pages, creating flaps and holes.

Finally we did a tour around the table again , opening and closing folds , revealing different combinations , before putting them away in a drawer until next week ( they're definately not very portable...)

So many possibilities and ways of looking in just 3 hours! We have another session of exploration next week before the site visit to V&A Cast Courts in week 3. Unfortunately I'll be away for that so will have to make a visit under my own steam. My current sketchbooks ( A5 and A4) suddenly seem very small.